For starters I have absolutely zero knowledge of electronics, more of a software guy, so please be gentle.

I need to build a standalone 7 segment display controller to fit inside a movie prop (IV pump). I have the displays (MAN3440A015 H64) from the original circuit board which I was hoping to reuse as they mount perfectly inside the housing. The displays (there are four of them) need to show a static number, and that's it, any number will do. Simple for some, impossible for me.

Essentially I want a solution that can just be given power and the number displays, and never has to change.

The number he mentioned (MAN3440A) is a common cathode display. For each digit, connect pins 4 and 12 together to the negative of your battery. Each segment you want lit needs to be connected to one side of a resistor (try 390 or 470 ohms for a 6 volt battery - 4 AA or C in series). The other side of each resistor gets connected to the positive terminal of the battery. You need a separate resistor per segment.
Look at the datasheet (http://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf-datasheets/Datasheets-5/DSA-83953.pdf) to see the pinout